Bmw 3 series vs Bmw Alpina b5: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Bmw 3 series
75%
MOT pass rate · 996,044 vehicles
Bmw Alpina b5
80%
MOT pass rate · 2 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw Alpina b5 (80%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Bmw 3 series | Bmw Alpina b5 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 75% | 80% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 25% | 20% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.0 | 0.6 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 128,558 mi | 76,148 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 996,044 | 2 |
Most common faults
Bmw 3 series
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Bmw Alpina b5
- Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))
- Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))
- Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Bmw 3 series (75%) and Bmw Alpina b5 (80%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Bmw 3 series report Full Bmw Alpina b5 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.